Shared insights for heat health risk adaptation in metropolitan areas of developing countries
Wenbo Yu,
Jun Yang,
Dongqi Sun,
Bing Xue,
Wei Sun,
Jiayi Ren,
Huisheng Yu,
Xiangming Xiao,
Jianhong(Cecilia) Xia,
Xueming Li
Affiliations
Wenbo Yu
School of Humanities and Law, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, China; Human Settlements Research Center, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116029, China
Jun Yang
School of Humanities and Law, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, China; Human Settlements Research Center, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116029, China; Jangho Architecture College, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, China; Corresponding author
Dongqi Sun
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciencess, Beijing 110016, China; Corresponding author
Bing Xue
Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
Wei Sun
Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
Jiayi Ren
School of Humanities and Law, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, China
Huisheng Yu
School of Humanities and Law, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, China
Xiangming Xiao
Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, Center for Earth Observation and Modeling, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
Jianhong(Cecilia) Xia
School of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS), Curtin University, Perth, WA 65630, Australia
Xueming Li
Human Settlements Research Center, Liaoning Normal University, Dalian 116029, China
Summary: Global warming has led to a surge in heat health risks (HHRs), the impacts of which are particularly pronounced in metropolitan areas of developing countries. In the current study, six metropolitan areas - Beijing, China; Cairo, Egypt; Jakarta, Indonesia; Mumbai, India; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Tehran, Iran - were selected as the study area to further differentiate the built-up landscapes by utilizing the concept of local climate zones. Moreover, we assessed the similarities and differences in HHR associated with the landscape. Results revealed a 30.67% higher HHR in compact built-up landscapes than in the open built-up type. Urban green spaces played an effective but differentiated role in mitigating HHR. That is, low vegetation in urbanized areas and trees in suburban areas significantly mitigated HHR. Collectively, our findings emphasize the role of effective planning and management in addressing HHR and provide empirical support for implementing HHR mitigation and adaptation strategies.
